Elene

Two hundred winters had wound their way, and three and forty told in number, since the Wielder of Glory, the world's true Light, was born among men to bring us solace. Then Constantine ruled, the Caesar commanded, helm of the Romans, a righteous ring-giver. The lord of legions was loved by his people, a shield to his warriors, strong in his reign.

Then word was brought to the war-leader’s ear of a gathering horde, a grim invasion. The Hunnish people and Hrethgoths hardened, Franks and Hugas, a fearsome force, had mustered their might by the river’s margin, on Danube’s dark bank, a host of darkness. Their banners billowed, their byrnies glittered, they shook their spears, swore oaths of slaughter. The battle-king learned that a barbarous legion sought out his lands with a lust for plunder.

Then the ring-giver roused his ranks of thanes, the lord of the Romans led forth his legions. His war-band marched, the warriors hastened, until they encamped by the current’s edge, near the foreign flood, where the foe-host waited. The king of the Romans kept watch by the river.

Fear then fell on the famed emperor, his heart was heavy for his host of warriors, seeing the savage swarm assembled on the river’s far bank, a force uncounted. The helm of the people pitched his pavilions there on the border, and brooded in sorrow. Dread-gripped he dwelt, expecting his doom, his spirit crushed by the smallness of his company. The host was heart-shaken, horror-struck, as night’s dark shadow descended upon them.

Then as the battle-king slumbered in sorrow, surrounded by thanes, a dream descended. A shining spirit appeared in his sleep, a heavenly herald, handsome of feature, who called out his name through the closing darkness. The king looked up, and saw in his vision, held by the herald, a holy symbol, a tree of glory, transcendently bright. He saw the sign of the Savior’s Rood, gleaming with gold, with gems adorned, a beacon of brightest wood, brilliantly shining. Letters of light were laced upon it, written in wonder, a radiant message.

The messenger of glory spoke with majesty, his voice a balm for the leader’s bale-sorrows. “Constantine, king! Cast out your terror, and fear not this foe, this fearsome war-band. Look to the heavens, to the Lord of Hosts, and see this sign, this salvation-token.” The king gazed upward as the angel guided, and saw the bright beacon, as he had been bidden, the victory-tree, with words woven on it, shining and splendid: “By this sign, conquer. By this bright beacon you’ll break the foe-host, and quell this conflict, and crush their malice.”

Then the herald departed, to the heavens ascending, and the helm of the Romans awoke from his slumber. The king’s heart was lighter, his load of grief lifted, his spirit renewed, his sorrow banished. The lord of legions, lightened in soul, bade his best craftsmen be brought before him, and commanded them swiftly to shape a standard, a glorious banner in God’s own likeness, fashioned as the Rood, the flawless symbol he had witnessed in wonder, the victory-beacon.

Then the war-queen was mindful, with purpose in mind, of her lord’s true will, and with eager heart sought the land of the Jews, with a legion of shield-men, a host of warriors, to test them with questions. And so it befell in a brief span of time that the mighty war-band, the battle-brave heroes, came to Jerusalem, into the city, the greatest of companies, with the glorious queen.

She then commanded that a call be sent out to the city-dwellers, the wisest among them, summoning far and wide from the folk of Judah each man of the council to come to a meeting, all those who most deeply the Lord’s dark secrets through righteous law were cunning to reckon. Then a great host was gathered from pathways far-flung, all who could rightly read the lore of Moses. There in that number were three thousand chosen from the people for learning. The beloved lady began to address the Hebrew men with her words: “I have understood, and have grasped it surely through the secret sayings of the holy prophets in God’s own books, that in days long gone you were worthy found by the King of Glory, dear to the Lord and daring in deed. But see, all that wisdom you unwisely cast off, and wrathfully spurned the one who sought to loose you from bondage, from the flames of damnation, from captive despair, through his glorious might. You spat with filth on the face of him who gave you new light, who from your blindness fashioned a cure, a healing renewal with his noble spittle; and from unclean spirits, from the ghosts of devils, he often delivered you. You contrived the death of the very Judge who himself from death the world awakened, a host of your people to their former life. So, mind-blinded, you began to mingle lies with the truth, light with the darkness, envy with honor; with evil intent you wove your wickedness. And for this your damnation harms you, the guilty. You judged the shining might, and lived in delusion, in thoughts of deep darkness, even to this day. Go now swiftly, think with your wisdom, you men of sure learning, strong in your speech-craft, all those among you who hold your law, with its noble power, foremost in your hearts, that you may truly tell me the answers, and make known to me every token that I shall seek.”

They went to their council, with grieving hearts, the law-clever earls, by terror afflicted, mournful and grim, and they earnestly sought the wisest of word-lore, so they might answer the queen’s demands, for good or for ill, whatever she sought. In that throng they found a thousand men, mind-sharp and knowing, who best remembered the ancient lore held by the Jews. They thronged in a press where in her power waited Caesar’s kin, the glorious war-queen, gilded with gold. Elene spoke, and before her earls said: “Hear now, you mind-wise, these holy runes, my words and my wisdom. See, you received the lore of the prophets, how the Life-Giver in the form of a child would come to be born, the Wielder of Mights. Of this Moses sang, and the warden of Israel spoke these words: ‘To you shall be born a boy in secret, mighty in majesty, whose mother shall not be swelled with child through the love of a man.’ Of this King David sang a lordly song, the wise old seer, father of Solomon, and the boldest of warriors spoke this word: ‘I saw God from the first, before all things, the Lord of all Triumphs. He was in my sight, the Wielder of Mights, at my right hand, the Keeper of Glory. From him I will not ever in my life turn away my face.’ And so again, of you, Isaiah, the prophet before the people, spoke these words, deep-thinking through the spirit of God: ‘I have raised up young sons and brought forth children, to whom I gave blessing, a holy heart-solace, but they scorned me, hated me with hostile hearts, had no forethought, no wit of wisdom; while the weary beasts that a man each day drives and threshes, they know their master, and do not with malice hate the friend who gives them their fodder. But the folk of Israel would never acknowledge me, though I for them throughout the world’s ages worked many wonders.’ See, we have heard it through holy books that the Lord gave you glory without shame, the Shaper gave you a share of might. Moses told how you to the Heaven-King ought to give heed, and follow his lore. But you soon grew weary, and against the right you have rebelled, you shunned the shining Shaper of all, the Lord of all lords, and followed delusion, forsaking God’s right. Now go you quickly and find yet again those who your ancient writings, through wisdom’s craft, can best know, your ancestral law, that they may give me answers from their deep minds.” Then they went with the throng, heart-shaken, the brave-spirited, as the queen had bid them. They found then five hundred, forward-thinking men, chosen from the people, who in learning’s craft through mind-memory held the most might, and wisdom in spirit. To the hall again in a little while they were summoned, the city’s wardens. Then the queen began to press them with words, her gaze on them all: “Often you have done a foolish deed, you cursed outcasts, and scorned the scriptures, your fathers’ lore, but never more so than now, when you refused the cure for your blindness, and denied the truth and the right, that in Bethlehem the child of the Wielder, the one-born King, was brought into being, first of all princes. Though you knew the law, the words of the prophets, you would not then, you sin-workers, acknowledge the truth.” They then with one voice gave her an answer: “Behold, we have learned the Hebrew law, which in bygone days our fathers knew at God’s own ark, but we do not know for what reason you, our lady, have grown so hard and angry with us. We know of no crime that we have committed in this nation, no treason against you, ever.” Elene spoke, and before the earls said, the lady spoke out, loud before the host: “Go now quickly, and seek out apart those who have among you the greatest might of mind and of spirit, that they may boldly make known to me each thing that I seek, without hesitation.” They went from that council, as the mighty queen, bold in her city, had commanded them, with grieving hearts. They earnestly pondered, sought with shrewd thoughts, what sin it could be that they in their nation had done against Caesar, for which the queen blamed them. Then one among them spoke before the earls, a man song-skilled and wise in tales (his name was Judas, a master of words): “I know for a fact she wishes to seek the victory-beacon on which there suffered the Wielder of nations, free of all sorrows, God’s own Son, whom, guiltless of every crime, our fathers through hatred hung on a high beam in days long past. That was a terrible thought! Now there is great need that we firmly steady our spirits, that we of this murder do not become tellers, nor where that holy tree was hidden away after the battle, lest our ancient writings be all overturned and our fathers’ lore be forsaken. It will not be long before Israel’s lineage may no longer rule over the world, the law-craft of men, if this is revealed. Just so, long ago, my own grandfather, a man victory-famed, (his name was Sachius), a wise old seer, said to my father, as he, his son, was turning from this world, and spoke this word: ‘If it should befall you in your life-days that you should hear wise men asking about that holy tree, and raising disputes about the victory-beacon on which the true King was hanged, the Warden of heaven’s kingdom, the child of all kinship, then you must quickly, my beloved son, reveal it, before death takes you. Never after that may the Hebrew people, the council-takers, hold their kingdom, or wield their power, but the glory shall live and the lordship of those, in world without end, who follow their will, who honor and praise the hanged King.’ Then I boldly to my father, the old law-keeper, gave my answer: ‘How could that happen in this worldly kingdom, that against that holy one our fathers would send their hands to his death-bed with wrathful intent, if they had known before that he was the Christ, the King in the heavens, the true Son of the Shaper, Savior of souls?’ Then my elder gave me an answer, wise in his spirit my father spoke: ‘Understand, young man, God’s high majesty, the Savior’s name. It is to every man unspeakable, which no man on this earth can ever discover. I never wished to seek the counsel this people began, but I always kept myself apart from their guilt, and brought no shame to my own spirit. I often and earnestly spoke against that unrighteous act, when the wise men sat in their council, and sought in their hearts how they might hang the Son of the Shaper, the helm of all men, the Lord of all angels and mortals, noblest of children. They could not, so foolish, consign him to death, those wretched men, as they had intended, setting him to sorrows, though for a short while on the gallows he sent forth his spirit, God’s victory-child. Then afterwards was lifted from the Rood the Ruler of skies, the glory of all glories; for three nights then in the sepulcher he was abiding under the lock of darkness, and then on the third day, the light of all light, he arose living, the Lord of angels, and to his thanes himself, the true Lord of triumphs, he showed himself, bright in his glory. Then your brother in time received the bath of baptism, the luminous faith. Then for the Lord’s love Stephen was stoned; he did not repay evil with evil, but for his old enemies he, the pain-hardened, pleaded, and asked the Glory-King that he not hold that wicked deed against them, that they out of envy, the guiltless one, the sinless one, by the teachings of Saul had bereft of life. Just as he, through hatred, to their doom condemned many of Christ’s folk, judging them to death. Yet the Lord afterwards showed him such mercy that he became a solace to many, after the God of beginnings, the Savior of men, had changed his name, and he was afterwards called Saint Paul by name, and no other law-teacher was better than he under the sky’s shelter, ever after, of those whom woman or man brought forth in the world, though he had commanded Stephen, your brother, be broken with stones on the hill. Now you can hear, my dear man, how merciful is the Wielder of all, though we may work offense against him often, the wounds of our sins, if we soon after make amends for those evil deeds and turn from that unrighteousness. Therefore I truly, and my own dear father, have since believed that he suffered, the God of all glories, the Guide of life, a hateful torment for the great need of the kindred of men. Therefore I teach you through secret counsel, my dearest boy, that you never utter words of contempt, envy or blasphemy, a grim counter-speech, against God’s Son. Then you will earn for yourself eternal life, the best of victory-gifts, granted in heaven.’ Thus my father in days long past, when I was a youth, taught me with words, schooled me with true speech (his name was Simon), a man wise in sorrows. Now you know well what seems best to you in your hearts to make known, if this queen should ask us about that tree, now that you know my spirit’s thought and my mind’s intent.” Then against him the wisest men in that host of people spoke these words: “Never have we heard any man in this nation, except for you now, another thane, speak of such a secret event. Do as you see fit, you who are wise in old tales, if you are questioned in this host of men. He will need wisdom, wary words, and a sage’s wit, who must give an answer to that noble lady before this great throng in council.” Words grew with speeches, the men took counsel on every side, some here, some there, they pressed and they pondered. Then came a throng of thanes to the council-place. The heralds cried out, Caesar’s messengers: “The queen summons you, men, to her hall, that you may rightly declare your judgments. You have need of good counsel in this meeting-place, of wisdom of mind.” They were ready, the sorrowful leaders, when they were summoned by that hard command; to the court they went, to show their craft’s might. Then the queen began to press the Hebrew men with her words, to ask the heart-weary ones about the old writings, how in the world before the prophets had sung, the holy-spirited men, about God’s Son, where the Lord had suffered, the true Son of the Shaper, for the love of souls. They were stiff, harder than stone, they would not rightly reveal that secret, nor give her any answer, those bitter foes, to what she sought, but to every word they made denial, firm in their hearts, to all that she asked, said that in their lives they had never, not before nor since, heard of any such thing. Elene spoke and answered them in anger: “I will tell you the truth, and in this life it will not be a lie, if you follow this falsehood any longer with the cunning deceit that you stand before me with, that on a hill a pyre shall consume you, the hottest of death-flames, and a leaping fire shall tear at your corpses, so that this lie of yours shall be weighed and found wanting at your world’s end. You cannot affirm the words that you for a while now have wrongly wrapped in cloaks of corruption, nor can you hide that fate, nor conceal that deep might.” Then they were in dread of death, of the pyre and life’s end, and they gave up one man, one song-skilled and wise in tales (whose name among his kinsmen was Judas), whom they gave to the queen, saying he was singularly wise: “He can tell you the truth, unveil the secret of fates, as you question him with words, the law from beginning to end. He is of noble kin on this earth, wise in word-craft and a prophet’s son, bold in council; it is his birthright to have clever answers, craft in his breast. He will show you, before this host of men, the gift of wisdom through that great might, as your heart desires.” She in peace let them go, each man to seek his own home, and took that one man, Judas, as hostage, and then earnestly begged that he of the Rood show her the truth, which in its resting place had long been concealed, and she called him to her alone. Elene spoke to the solitary man, the triumphant queen: “Two things are ready for you, either life or death, whichever is dearer for you to choose. Declare quickly now which of these things you will accept.” Judas spoke against her (he could not escape that sorrow, nor turn aside the queen’s enmity; he was in the queen’s power): “How can it be for one who in the wasteland, weary and foodless, treads the moorland, shackled by hunger, and before his sight both a loaf and a stone should appear, the hard and the soft, that he should take the stone for hunger’s relief, pay no heed to the loaf, turn to privation, and refuse that food, spurn the better, when he has need of both?” Then the blessed lady gave him an answer, Elene before her earls, openly: “If you wish in heaven’s kingdom to have a home with the angels and life on this earth, a victory-reward in the heavens, tell me quickly where the Rood of the Sky-King remains, holy under the soil, which you for a while now through murderous evil have hidden from men.” Judas spoke (his spirit was mournful, his heart was hot, and he was torn both ways, whether to give up the hope of heaven’s kingdom and this present life, this realm under the sky, or not to point out the Rood): “How can I find what happened so long ago in the turning of winters? A great span has passed, two hundred or more counted in number. I cannot recount it, for I do not know the count. Many since then have passed away, wise and good men who were before us, clever men. I was born in my youth in later days, a young boy. I cannot know what I do not know, nor find in my heart what happened so long ago.” Elene spoke to him in answer: “How has it happened in this nation that you hold so much in your memory, every single token of what the Trojans accomplished in battle? That was far longer ago, that open, old war, than this noble event, by the turning of years. You can readily recount it, what the full number was of the battle-slain, of the spear-wielders fallen dead under the shield-wall. You set down in writings their burial mounds under the stone-cliffs, and the places as well, and the count of the winters.” Judas spoke, he bore a gnawing sorrow: “Of that martial work, my lady, out of dire need we keep close memory, and that strife of war we set down in writings, the deeds of nations, but this we have never heard from any man’s mouth, told to men, except for here and now.” The noble queen gave him an answer: “You deny too strongly the truth and the right about the tree of life, and yet a little while ago you spoke truly about the victory-beacon to your own people, and now you turn to lies.” Judas spoke against her, said that he had spoken in sorrow and in deepest doubt, thinking a grim fate was near him. The kinswoman of Caesar swiftly replied: “Listen, we have heard it told to men through holy books that he was hanged on Calvary, the King’s freeborn Son, God’s Spirit-Son. You must at once unveil this wisdom, as the writings say, across this plain, where the place is, Calvary, before death takes you, a death for your sins, so that I may then cleanse it for Christ’s will, for the help of men, that holy God may fulfill for me, the mighty Lord, my heart’s deep thought, the Glory-Giver of hosts, my desire, the Helper of spirits.” Judas answered her, stubborn-minded: “I do not know the place, nor anything of that plain, nor do I know the way.” Elene spoke with a wrathful heart: “I swear it by the Son of the Shaper, the hanged God, that you shall be tormented by hunger before your kinsmen, unless you forsake these falsehoods and plainly show me the truth.” She then commanded that he, still living, be led by her host, that the guilty one be shoved (the servants did not delay) into a dry well, where, deprived of all comforts, he sat in his sorrows for a space of seven nights under a harmful lock, hunger-haunted, clasped by fetters, and then began to cry out, pierced by his pains, on the seventh day, weary and foodless (his strength was weakened): “I beseech you by the God of the heavens that you let me up from these hardships, wretched from hunger’s grip. I will gladly reveal the holy tree, for I can no longer hide it for hunger. This confinement is too strong, this dire need too sharp, and this torment too hard by the count of days. I cannot endure it, nor longer conceal the tree of life, though I before was driven by folly and knew the truth too late myself.” When she who judged there among the men heard the man’s demeanor, she quickly commanded that he from his confinement and from his prison of need, from that narrow place, be let up. They swiftly did so at once, and with honors they led him up from the dungeon, as the queen had commanded. They strode then to that place, the stubborn-minded, up onto the hill where the Lord had before been hanged, the Warden of heaven’s kingdom, God’s child on the gallows, and yet he did not know for sure, humbled by hunger, where the holy Rood, through the fiend’s cunning enclosed in the earth, long fast in its lair, hidden from the people, dwelt in its death-rest. He raised his voice then, courageous, and spoke in Hebrew: “Lord Savior, you who hold power of judgment, and you who wrought through your glory’s might heaven and earth and the ocean’s tumult, the sea’s wide bosom, and all creation together, and you who measured with your own hands the whole circling world and the sky above, and you yourself sit, Wielder of triumphs, over the noblest of the angel-kin, who fare through the air wound in light, in great majestic power. No kind of man from earthly ways can travel up there in his body with that bright host, the messengers of glory. You made them and set them to your service, holy and heavenly. Of their kind there are six named in the constant stream, who are surrounded and adorned with six wings, shining beautifully. Four of them there are who in flight always attend to their service with glory before the face of the eternal Judge, ceaselessly they sing in splendor with clear voices the praise of the Heaven-King, with loveliest song, and speak these words with pure voices (their name is Cherubim): ‘Holy is the holy God of high angels, Wielder of hosts! Full of his glory is heaven and earth and all high majesty, marked with honor.’ There are two among them, a victory-kin in the heavens, whom men call by the name Seraphim. They must guard paradise and the tree of life with a flaming sword, a holy keeping. The hard edge quakes, the patterned blade trembles, and changes its colors, grim in their grasp. You, God our Lord, rule with a wide heart, and you cast the sinful, the guilt-working foes, the foolish ones, from the heavens. Then that cursed host into halls of darkness had to fall to their ruin in torment, where in the fire-whelm now they suffer a death-agony in the dragon’s embrace, oppressed by the dark. He denied your dominion. For that he in misery must, full of all filth, an outcast, suffer, endure his thralldom. There he cannot cast off your word, he is fast in torments, the source of all sin, bound in hell-pains. If it be your will, Wielder of angels, that he should reign who was on the Rood, and through Mary into the middle-earth was born in a child’s form, the Lord of angels, (if he were not your Son, sinless, never would he have worked so many true wonders in this worldly kingdom through the count of days; nor would you from death so gloriously, Wielder of nations, have awakened him before the people, if he in your glory were not your Son through that bright birth), show now, Father of angels, your beacon forth. As you heard the holy man Moses in council, when you, God of mights, showed to that earl in that noble time under the mountain-slope the bones of Joseph, so I, Joy of hosts, if it be your will, through that bright creation, wish to ask that you, Shaper of spirits, open to me that gold-hoard that was long hidden from men. Let now, Giver of life, from this place a pleasant smoke rise up under the sky’s course, playing in the air. I will believe you the better and the more firmly fix my spirit, my unwavering hope, on the hanged Christ, that he is truly the Savior of souls, eternal, almighty, the King of Israel, ruling with a wide heart the glory in the heavens, forever without end in the eternal dwellings.” Then from that place a steam rose up, like smoke under the sky. The man’s breast-heart was lifted up. He with both his hands, blessed and wise, played upwards. Judas spoke, clever in thought: “Now I through truth have myself acknowledged in my hardened heart that you are the Savior of the middle-earth. To you, God of mights, throned in glory, be thanks without end, that you to me, so weary and so sin-stained, have through your glory revealed the secret of fates. Now I, Son of God, wish to ask you, the people’s Will-Giver, now that I know you are revealed and born, the glory of all kings, that you no longer be mindful of my guilts, Lord, those which I committed not a few times. Let me, God of mights, in the number of your kingdom, dwell with the holy ones’ share in that bright city, where my brother is honored in glory, because he was true to you, Stephen, though he was pelted with handfuls of stone. He has the reward of his struggle, a blessing without end. In books are his wonders that he worked, made known in writings.” Then, eager for his task, he began to dig for the tree of glory, resolute, delving the earth under the turf, so that at twenty feet deep he found, hidden below, concealed under the ness in a dark cavern, three crosses together in that dreary hall, buried in grit, just as in old days the godless host, the kindred of Jews, had covered them with earth. They raised up strife against God’s Son, as they never should have, when they did not heed the lore of the source of all sin. Then his mind was greatly gladdened, his heart emboldened by that holy tree, his breast-spirit inspired, when he saw the beacon, holy under the soil. He took in his hands the joy-beam of glory, and with his company lifted it from its earth-grave. The foot-travelers, the noble men, went into the city. The resolute earls then set in sight the three victory-beams before Elene’s knee, the bold-spirited. The queen rejoiced in the work in her heart, and then began to ask on which of those beams the Son of the Wielder, the Hope-Giver of men, had been hanged: “Listen, we have heard it told by tokens through holy books, that two suffered with him, and he was the third himself on the Rood-tree. The whole sky grew dark in that terrible time. Say, if you know, on which of these three the Lord of angels suffered, the Keeper of glory.” Judas could not, for he did not know for sure, plainly show her about the victory-beam, on which one the Savior, God’s victory-child, had been raised up, until he commanded that the beams with a great clamor be set in the middle of the famous city, and to wait there until the almighty King made known to them a wonder before the people about the tree of glory. The victory-famed sat, they raised a song, the council-takers, around the three roods until the ninth hour, they had a new joy found in that marvel. Then a multitude came, no small folk, and a dead man they brought on a bier in a throng of men nearby (it was then the ninth hour), a youth, spiritless. Then Judas was in his mind-spirit greatly gladdened. He commanded them to set down the soulless one, the life-departed body on the earth, the unliving, and he, a champion of right, raised up two of the roods in his arms, the deep-thinking, over that fated house. It was dead as before, the corpse fast in its lair. The limbs grew cold, covered in death-pangs. Then the third was raised, the holy one. The body was in waiting until upon it the prince’s Rood was raised, the Sky-King’s beam, the true victory-beacon. He at once arose, with spirit endowed, together both body and soul. There praise was raised, fair among the folk. They honored the Father, and the true Son of the Wielder they praised with words. To him be glory and thanks, forever without end, from all of creation! Then for the people in their heart-spirit was the memory, as it ever should be, of the wonders that the Lord of hosts worked for the life-salvation of the race of men, the Guide of life. Then a lying sinner rose into the air, a leaping fiend. The hell-devil began to cry out, the terrible monster, mindful of evils: “What man is this, who again through our old strife destroys my following, increases the ancient enmity, plunders my possessions? This is a perpetual struggle. Sin-doing souls may no longer dwell in my domain. Now a foreigner has come, one I once thought fast in his sins, he has robbed me of every right, of all my treasures. This is no fair journey. The Savior has done me much harm, many cruel evils, he who was raised in Nazareth. As soon as he grew from childhood, he always turned my possessions to himself. Now none of my rights can prosper. His kingdom is broad over the middle-earth. My power is weakened under the heavens. I have no cause to praise the Rood with laughter. Indeed, that Savior has often confined me in that narrow home, to my grieving sorrow! Through Judas I once became hopeful, and now I am humbled, bereft of my goods, through Judas again, an outcast and friendless. Yet I can still find through letters of strife a reversal from these spoils of war; I will raise up against you another king, who will persecute you, and he will forsake your lore and follow my evil ways, and he will then send you into the blackest and the worst of tormenting terrors, so that you, overcome with sorrows, will firmly renounce the hanged King whom you once obeyed.” Then the wise-minded Judas answered him, the battle-brave hero (the Holy Spirit was fast within him, a fire-hot love, a welling wit through a prophet’s wisdom), and he spoke this word, full of wisdom: “You need not so greatly, mindful of sins, renew your sorrow and raise up strife, you murderous master of evil, lest the mighty King into the abyss thrust you down, you sin-worker, into the ground of torments, bereft of glory, he who many of the dead awakened with a word. Know you more surely that you in your folly forsook the brightest of lights and the Lord’s love, that fair joy, and in a fire-bath, pressed by torments, you have since dwelt, kindled on a pyre, and there you shall always, you rebel, suffer damnation, misery without end.” Elene heard how the fiend and the friend raised their dispute, the blessed and the baleful, on two sides, the sinful and the saved. Her spirit was the gladder for what she had heard, that the hell-fiend was overcome, the giver of sins, and she then wondered at the man’s wisdom, how he so full of faith in so little a time and so unknowing had ever become, shot through with shrewdness. She thanked God, the Glory-King, that her will had come to pass through God’s Son in both respects, both in the sight of the victory-beacon, and in the faith that she so clearly perceived, a glory-fast gift in the man’s breast. Then it was proclaimed in that nation, carried wide among the people, a famous morning-tale, to the vexation of many who wished to hide the Lord’s law, announced through the cities, as far as the ocean embraces, in every town, that Christ’s Rood, long buried in the earth, had been found, the best of victory-beacons of all that ever or since, holy under the heavens, had been raised up. And for the Jews it was the greatest of griefs, for those wretched men, the most hateful of fates, if they could have changed it before the world, for it was the Christians’ joy. Then the queen commanded her messengers from among her earls to make ready for a journey. They were to seek their lord over the high sea, the king of the Romans, and to the warrior himself tell the greatest of glad tidings, that the victory-beacon through the Shaper’s grace had been discovered, found in the earth, which for many an age had been hidden, to the shame of the holy, the Christian folk. Then the king’s mind was gladdened by those famous words, his spirit rejoicing. There was no lack of questioners in gilded armor in the cities, come from afar. The greatest of comforts had come to him in the world from that welcome news, a laughing heart, which the war-messengers brought him over the eastern ways, how the men with the victory-queen had made a safe journey over the swan-road and had landed in the land of the Greeks. The Caesar commanded them with great haste to prepare themselves again for a journey. The men did not delay once they had heard the ready answer, the prince’s word. He bade them give greetings to Elene, the battle-brave, if they survived the sea and could make a safe journey, the keen-hearted men, to the holy city. Constantine also commanded the messengers to bid her that she build a church there on the mountain-slope, by the counsel of them both, a temple of the Lord on Calvary for Christ’s will, for the help of men, where the holy Rood was found, the most famous of beams that earth-dwellers have ever heard of on the ways of the world. She did so, after her kinsmen from the west brought over the sea-fastness many a beloved message. Then the queen commanded that men skilled in crafts be sought out apart, the very best, those who could most wondrously work with stone-joinings, to raise on that plain God’s temple, as the Warden of spirits had spoken to her from the heavens. She then had the Rood overlaid with gold and with kinds of gems, with the noblest of precious stones set with cunning craft, and then in a silver coffer enclosed it with locks. There the tree of life, the best of victory-beacons, has since remained, noble, unbroken. There is always ready for the afflicted and sick a remedy for every torment, for strife and for sorrow. They soon find there through that holy object help, a divine gift. Likewise Judas, after a time, received the bath of baptism, and was cleansed, true to Christ, dear to the Life-Warden. His belief became fast in his spirit, after the Spirit of comfort made its dwelling in the man’s breast, emboldening him to salvation. He chose the better path, the joy of glory, and renounced the worse, the devil-idols, and left delusion, the unrighteous law. The eternal King, the mild Shaper, God, the Wielder of mights, became his. Then he was baptized who for many a season had a bright light ready, his breast-spirit inspired to the better life, turned toward glory. Indeed, fate decreed that he so faithful and so dear to God in this worldly kingdom should become, pleasing to Christ. That was made known, after Elene commanded Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, a man of deep counsel, to be fetched for support, by the counsel of her men to the holy city, that he might install in the priesthood in Jerusalem Judas as bishop for the people within the city walls, chosen by the Spirit’s gift for God’s temple, and him Cyriacus, through wise counsel, she afterwards named with a new voice. The man’s name was changed in the city to the better one, by the Savior’s law. Then Elene’s mind was still mindful of that great event, and often of the nails with which the Savior’s feet were pierced through and his hands as well, with which on the Rood the Ruler of skies was fastened, the mighty Lord. About them the Christian queen began to ask, and begged Cyriacus that he for her yet again by the Spirit’s might concerning that wondrous event fulfill her will, reveal it with glorious gifts, and she spoke this word to the bishop, spoke boldly: “You, protector of earls, have rightly shown me the noble beam, the Rood of the Sky-King, on which was hanged by heathen hands the Helper of spirits, God’s own Son, the Savior of men. Now for those nails a curiosity stirs me in my heart-spirit. I wish that you would find them, which are still in the earth, deeply delved, secret, hidden in darkness. My mind always sorrows, weeps mournfully, and will not rest until the almighty Father, the Wielder of hosts, fulfills my will, the Savior of men, through the coming of the nails, holy from the heights. Now you, quickly, with all humility, best of messengers, send up your prayer into that bright creation, into the joy of glory. Ask the Glory of warriors that he make known to you, the almighty King, the hoard under the soil that is still hidden, secret from men, that waits in darkness.” Then the holy one began to steady his heart, his breast inspired, the bishop of the people. Glad-minded he went with a throng of men praising God, and then earnestly Cyriacus on Calvary bowed his face, did not hide his heart’s counsel, but with the Spirit’s might cried out to God with all humility, asked that the Warden of angels reveal to him the unknown event, new in his need, where he for those nails might most expect to find them on that plain. Then the Father, the Spirit of comfort, let forth a sign where they were looking, through a blaze of fire rising up, where the noblest of relics by men’s counsel had been hidden through cunning art, the nails in the earth. Then suddenly came, brighter than the sun, a leaping flame. The people saw their Will-Giver show a wonder, when there from the darkness, like heaven-stars or gold-gems, close to the ground, the nails from their confinement shone from below, glistening with light. The people rejoiced, the exultant host, they all with one voice gave glory to God, though they before, through the devil’s ruin, had long been in error, turned from Christ. They spoke thus: “Now we ourselves see the token of triumph, the true wonder of God, though we denied it before with falsehoods. Now it has come into the light, revealed, the course of fates. Glory for this be to the God of heaven’s kingdom on high!” Then he was gladdened who had turned to salvation through God’s Son, the bishop of the people, with his new name. He received the nails, overcome with awe, and brought them to the venerable queen. Cyriacus had fulfilled all, as the noble lady, the woman, had willed. Then there was a ring of weeping, a hot head-welling poured over her cheeks, (not for grief did the tears fall over the wire-adornment), the queen’s will was filled with glory. She set on her knee the gift, in bright belief, she honored the relic, rejoicing with bliss, which was brought to her as a help for her sorrows. She thanked God, the Lord of triumphs, that she had truly known in her presence what was often proclaimed long before, from the beginning of the world, as a comfort to the people. She was filled with the gift of wisdom, and the holy, heavenly Spirit watched over her dwelling, guarded her heart, her noble mind, as the almighty victory-child of God afterwards protected her. She then began earnestly with spiritual secrets to seek in her mind the way of righteousness to glory. Indeed, the God of hosts gave his aid, the Father in the heavens, the almighty King, so that the queen achieved her will in the world. The prophecy, sung long before by the ancient prophets, was fulfilled in every detail, just as it later befell in every thing. The people’s queen began through the Spirit’s gift earnestly to seek, closely and often, how she might best and most preciously use those nails, as a comfort to the people, what the Lord’s will was in this. She then had fetched the forward-thinking man swiftly to her council, he who knew well the art of counsel through his keen might, wise in his spirit, and she began to ask him what seemed best to him in his heart to accomplish, and she chose his lore through her public duty. He answered her boldly: “It is fitting that you hold the Lord’s word in your heart, the holy secret, best of queens, and the king’s command earnestly attend to, now that God has given your soul victory-speed and the craft of wisdom, the Savior of men. Command that these nails be placed on the bridle of the noblest of earth-kings, of city-rulers, as cheek-pieces for his horse. That shall become famous to many throughout the middle-earth, for in battle with it he may overcome every foe, when the battle-eager on two sides seek conflict, the sword-enemies, where they strive for victory, wrathful against the wrathful. He shall have success in war, victory in battle, and peace everywhere, safety in the fight, who leads forth the bridle on his white horse, when the battle-brave, the proven men, at the spear-clash, bear shield and spear-point. This shall be for every man an unconquerable weapon in war against any monster. About this the prophet sang, wise in his cunning thoughts, (his mind delved deep, the wit of his wisdom), he spoke this word: ‘It shall become known that the king’s horse shall be honored with cheek-pieces under its proud rider, with bridle-rings. That beacon shall be called holy to God, and he shall be blessed with victory, honored in war, who bears that steed.’” Then Elene swiftly accomplished all this before her earls. She commanded the bridle of the prince, the ring-giver of men, to be adorned, and sent it as a gift to her own son over the ocean’s stream, a blameless gift. She then commanded to come together those whom she knew were the best among the Jews, of the race of men, to the holy city, to come into the town. Then the queen began to teach that beloved host that they the Lord’s love, and peace as well among themselves, a bond of friendship, should firmly maintain, blameless in their life’s time, and to their guide’s lore give heed, to the Christian ways that Cyriacus, wise in books, taught them. The bishopric was fairly established. Often to him from afar came the lame, the limb-sick, the crippled, the halt, the blood-stained, the leprous and the blind, the lowly, the heart-sorrowful; always they found healing there at the bishop’s hand, a cure for all time. Then Elene gave him treasure-honors, when she was eager for her journey back to her homeland, and she commanded all in that kingdom who praised God, men and women, that they should honor with mind and with might that famous day, with the thoughts of their hearts, on which the holy Rood was found, the most famous of beams of all that from the earth have grown up, budded under leaves. Then spring had passed by six nights before the coming of summer, on the Kalends of May. For every person may hell’s door be shut, heaven’s opened, the eternal kingdom of angels revealed, a joy without ceasing, and their share assigned with Mary, for all who take to mind the day-honoring of the dearest Rood under the heavens, on which the mightiest over-ruler of all spread out his arms.

Thus I, old and ready for my journey, through this frail house have woven word-craft and wondrously gathered, at times I pondered and sifted my thoughts in the narrow night. I did not know the truth of the Rood until a roomier thought, through that glorious might, unveiled wisdom in my mind’s chamber. I was stained by my deeds, shackled by sins, worn down by sorrows, bitterly bound, beset by troubles, until the mighty King granted me learning through a luminous form as a help to an old man, a gift without blame he measured and poured into my mind, made it bright and clear, in time made it spacious, unbound my bone-house, unwound my breast-lock, unlocked the art of song. This I joyfully used, willingly in the world. Of that tree of glory I was often, not just once, mindful before I had unveiled the wonder about that bright beam, as I found in books, in the course of events, made known in writings about that victory-beacon.

Until then, the man was always tossed by waves of care, drooping with sorrow, though in the mead-hall he received treasures, appled gold. He mourned, a companion to need, he endured narrow sorrow, a secret anxiety, where the horse measured the mile-paths before him, proudly prancing, adorned with wires. Joy has waned with the years, youth is gone, the old pride. The gleam of youth was once his. Now the old days, after their allotted time, have passed away, life’s joys have slipped by as water glides, as floods are driven. Wealth is for everyone fleeting under the sky; the land’s adornments depart under the clouds most like the wind, when it rises loud before men, rushes by the clouds, travels raging, and then suddenly becomes silent, narrowly hemmed in a prison of need, crushed by force.

So this whole world shall pass away, and also those who were born into it; a consuming flame will take them, when the Lord himself seeks his judgment with a host of angels. Every speaker there shall hear the right judgment for every deed from the Judge’s mouth, and for his words as well give a reckoning, for all the folly spoken before, for all bold thoughts. Then into the fire’s grasp he will divide every person into three, of all who have ever been in this wide life over the broad earth. The righteous will be uppermost in that fire, the blessed company, a host eager for glory; they can endure it and without hardship easily bear it, that host of the brave. The flame’s heat will be tempered for them, as is easiest for them, most gentle for themselves. The sinful, mixed with malice, will be tormented in the middle, the heart-sorrowful men, in the hot surge, covered with soot. The third part, the accursed evil-doers, will be in the fire’s depths, the faithless traitors, fastened in flame for their former deeds, the godless host, in the grip of the embers. They will never again come to the mind of God, of the Glory-King, from that house of murder, but they will be cast from that battle-heat into hell’s abyss, the bitter foes. For the two parts it will be unlike. They may see the Lord of angels, the God of triumphs. They will be refined, sundered from sins, like fine gold that in the fire-whelm is cleansed of every impurity by the oven’s fire, purified and smelted. So shall each of those men be shorn and separated from every guilt, from deep transgressions, through the fire of judgment. Then they may afterwards enjoy peace, eternal blessedness. The Warden of angels will be mild and blithe to them, because they forsook every evil, the works of sin, and to the Son of the Shaper cried out with words. Therefore they now shine in beauty, like the angels, they enjoy the inheritance of the Glory-King for all time. Amen.